Sound-signal apparatus.



G. DALEN.

SOUND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 11. 1914.

1 ,292,439, Patented J an. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I G. DALEN.

SOUND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1914.

Patelited Jan. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 )9 L x I I l GUSTAF DALEN, 0F LIDINGoN, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

SOUND-SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed March 17,1914. Serial No. 825,195.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAr DALI JN, engineer, residing at Skarsatra, Lidingbn, Stockholm, Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound- Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has for its object to provide an automatically working apparatus for establishing sound signals in certain predetermined intervals by means of a hell or the like, against which a clapper or hammer strikes, said clapper or hammer being connected with a piston movable in a cylinder, in which compressed carbonic acid or any other gas is introduced at certain intervals, so that the piston actuates the clapper or hammer. By means of a special device sound signals with difl'erent intervals of time between the signals can be obtained. For instance, the sounds may be produced in groups of two, three or more sounds, the intervals between the sounds of the respective groups being shorter than the intervals between the groups of sounds.

On the drawings Figure 1 schematically illustrates a vertical section of a buoy with receivers containing carbonic acid and apv paratus for producing the sound signals: and Fig. 2 illustrates a vertical section of a construction for establishing a series of relatively frequently repeated signals with longer intervals of time between the series.

In Fig. 1, 1 indicates a buoy, in the body of which pockets 2' are provided for receivers 3 containing compressed carbonic acid or any other gas. Said gas receivers are arranged so as to be easily exchangeable, being connected by means of joints with pipes 4, leading to a pressure regulating device 5 for reducing the gas pressure to the amount, suitable for the employment of the gas. From the pressure regulating device 5a pipe 6 extends into a valve casing 7 which contains mechanism for c'ontrolliug'thepassage of gas into the chamber 16 of said casing. The pipe 6 may be regarded as means supplemental to the pipe 28 for supplylng gas for operatlng the piston 18 in the cylinder 8 in the manner described below. 9 is the piston rod, which is connected with or actuates a hammer or striker 11, adapted to strikethe bell or sounder 12, by means of the connecting rod 10 and lever 10*. The cylinder 8, regulating;

device 5 and valve mechanism 7 are covered by means of a removable casing 13.

VVithin the valve casing 7, Fig. 2, is provided an upper chamber 16 as before stated, into which the conduit 28 from the pressure regulating device 5 opens. The conduit 28 is provided with a throttling device 30 whereby the rate of admission of gas to the chamber 16 may be controlled. It will be observed that when the piston 18 occupies its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 2 the top of the chamber 16 is closed thereby. In order that the area of the portion of the said piston over the said chamber against which the force of the gas under pressure in the chamber 16 is exerted may be increased, I have provided the said piston with a recess as indicated at 17. The stop 33 is situated within the chamber 16 and the space within the recess 17 may be regarded in effect as a part of the said chamber.

The operation of the apparatus may be described as follows :Assuming that the piston 18 occupies its innermost position, shown in the drawing, gas under pressure flows through the conduit 28 and the throttling device 30 therein into the chamber 16. The term chamber as here used includes the recess 17. The pressure successively or gradually increases in the chamber 16 until it is capable of displacing the piston 18. When the force exerted by the pressure of the gas in the chamber against the relatively small area of the piston which is opposite said chamber is sutlicient to lift the piston 18 and said piston is thereby slightly moved away from the bottom of the cylinder 8 the gas immediately spreads out from the said chamber over the bottom of the cylinder and underneath the piston 18 so that the force exerted thereby to lift and cause upward movement of the piston is multiplied and increased in proportion to the excess of the area of the said piston over the area of the portion of said piston against which the force of the gas is exerted when the piston is in its innermost position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 3

It will be seen, therefore, that the pressure thus multiplied is suflicient to propel the piston upwardly or outwardly in the cylinder 8 with relatively great speed and force to actuate, through the piston rod 9 and connecting rod- 10, the hammer actuat ing lever to thereby cause the hammer to strike against the bell or sounder 12 with sufiicient force to produce sounds of the volume and loudnessdesir'ed As aresult of the force exerted by the expansive action of the gas in the cylinder as above described the said piston is caused to move upwardly or outwardly in the cylinder 8 to a position beyond the openings 32 in the said cylinder which openings communicate with the atmosphere.- -This permits the carbonic acid gas or such other gas as may be employed to escape from the said cylinder through the said openings whereby the pressure against the end or-lower side of the piston 18 is diminished so that said piston is permitted to return to the bottom of the cylinder. For permittingthe escape of the gas which has not escaped through the openings 32 and which remains in the cylinder and which would tend to prevent the return of the piston to the bottom of the cylinder it is necessary that a vent be provided leadmg V fromthe space in the cylinder underneath the piston 18. In theconstruction as illustrated I have provided such a vent or open ing of very small diameter which extends through the bottom of the cylinder. When the piston has returned to the position shown inFig. 2 it remains there, closing the top-of the chamber 16 until the pressure in said chamber has again increased sufliciently to'displace the said piston whereby the operation as above described is repeated. The

- throttling device 30 is adjusted in such manner that it does not permit the carbonic acid or other gas to flow through the pipe 28 with such rapidity and in such quantity as to interfere with or prevent the return stroke or movement of the piston; Such gas as may be present between the piston 18 and the bottom of the cylinder8 escapes through the small opening 35 with suflicient rapidity to permit the return movement of the piston.

Although the opening 35 is of sufiicient diameter for the purpose last stated its presence does not interfere with the operation of the expanding gas in causing sudden upward or outward operative movement of the piston 18 within the cylinder 8 as above de scribed. By means of the device described blows on the hell or sounder 12 are obtained at certain intervals'of time. If however series of signals at equal intervals between themselves; but at longer intervals between the series, are desired, a valve mechanismmay be employed, introducing an additional quantity of gas to the cylinder 8 during certain intervals, whereby the piston'18 is displaced in the cylinder at shorter intervals of time than when gasenters only through the conduit' 28.

In theconstruction shownin Fig. 2 such.

a valve mechanism is illustrated. Without departing from the scope of the invention the same can, however, be varied, and is not limited to the arrangement described below. A chamber 14 is provided within the valve casing 7 and in said chamber a conduit 6 from the pressure regulator 5 opens. Said chamber is normally shut off from the upper chamber 16 by means of a spring actuated .valve 15. In the chamber 16 a slide 19 is provided, which is actuated in an upward direction by a spring 20 and abuts by meansof a bar 21 or the like against the under side of the piston 18. The slide is provided with a'cavity 22, through whichcommunication between the chambers 14 and 16 is established, when the'valve 15 is open, and in said cavity a ratchet wheel 23 is mounted, engaged by two pawls 24 and 24. On one side of the ratchet wheel 23 and connected with the same is a roller 25, provided with a series of bores 26. The valve 15 and its spindle 27 are arranged in such a manner,

that when said spindle in the lower position of the slide 19 abuts against the surface of the roller 25, the valve 15 is opened, but after that the ratchet wheel 23 and the roller 25 are rotated in the manner de scribed below, and the spindle 27 enters one oi. the bores 26, the valve 15 is closed by its spring 31.

Said valve mechanism works in the fol lowing manner. Supposing the parts occupy the position shown on the drawing Fig. 2, carbonic acid enters the chamber 16 through the conduit'28 and displaces the piston 18 as above described, whereby a blow is struck on the bell. The slide 19 thereby is displaced in an upward direction by its spring 20, as soon as the piston 18 begins to move, whereby the spindle 27 at first leaves the bore 26, and then pawl 24: moves the ratchet wheel 23 and the roller 25,0ne tooth forward. The slide is then arrested in its upward motion by abutting against a stop 33. When the piston 18 thereafter returns, it abuts against the bar 21 of the slide, at the end of its motion, whereby the slide 19 is displaced against the action of the spring 20. The roller 25 has now such a position, that its surface abuts against the valve spindle 27, whereby the valve 15 is-opened. Gas now flows from the chamber 1 1 through the slide 19 to the chamber 16, to which gas simultaneously flows through the conduit 28. whereby the pressure in the chamber 16 is more quickly increased, so that it can displace the piston 18 more rapidly and quickly, than when gas enters only through the conduit 28. Then the piston 18 moves upward, the slide 19 follows as above described, whereby the ratchet wheel 23 again is moved one tooth forward. Nowit depends upon the arrangement of the bores 26, whether by this motion a bore 26 will appear'opposite the valve spindle 27 and give this spindle an opportunity to enter the bore, when the slide 19 during the following returning motion of the piston 18 is depressed in the manner described above, whereby the valve 15 remains closed, or whether the surface of the roller 25 abuts against the valve spindle 27, opening the valve 15. In the first case gas flows into the chamber only through the conduit 28, whereby the time for obtaining the next blow on the bell is determined by the time required for establishing the necessary pressure in the chamber 16 for dis placing the piston 18. In the latter case an additional amount of gas through the valve 15 is established in the manner described above, whereby the'pressure in the chamber 16 is more quickly increased to the amount necessary for displacing the piston. Dependent upon the arrangement of the bores 26, two, three or more sound signals following each other quickly can be given or produced and such series or groups of signals may be succeeded by a long interval of time until the next series of two, three or more quick signals.

In order to secure a sudden displacement of the piston 1.8 any part of the cylinder bottom may be made magnetic, and any abutting part of the piston 18 may be made of soft iron, or vice versa, anv part of the piston 18 may be made magnetic and an abutting part of the cylinder 8 may be made of iron. Thus the upper part 34 of the valve casing 7 may be made magnetic and that part of the piston' 18, abutting against the casing 7, may be made of soft iron, whereby the gas pressure in the chamber 16 has to overcome the pressure of the piston 18 against the bottom as well as the magnetism between the part 34: and the piston 18. When said forces are overcome, the piston 18 is suddenly displaced in the cylinder 8, whereby a strong blow against the bell 12 is obtained.

The cylinder 8 need not necessarily be vertical, as shown on the drawing, but may of course also be horizontal.

The exchangeable gas receivers 3 may also be placed apart from the buoy, vessel or other device. supporting the sounding anonratus, and be connected with the cylinder 8 by means of pipes." The pressure chamber 16 may also be placed apart from the valve casing 7, when the same and the device for establishing an additional gas supply are used. I

I claim:

1. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gaseous fluid under pressure, said apparatus comprising a cylinder. a piston in said cylinder, a chamber opening into said cylinder which chamber is adapted to be closed by said piston when it occupies its innermost position in said cylinder in contact with the adjacent head thereof, means for supplying said fluid continuously to said chamber such fluid accumulating gradually therein until the expansiveforce exerted thereby is sufiicient to move said piston a short distance away from said head to permit the gas to spread out underneath the adjacent end of said piston whereby the area of application of said force is greatly increased to thereby cause quick outward movement of the same, a sounder, and means having connection with said piston for striking said sounder.

2. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gas under pressure, said apparatus comprising a cylinder having a piston therein, two conduits for supplying a gas under pressure for operating said piston one of said conduits supplying the said gas continuously and the other at intervals the latter acting simultaneously with and being supplemental to the former, a sounder, and means having connection with the said piston for striking said sounder.

'3. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gas under pressure, said apparatus comprising a chamber adapted to receive the said gas, two passage-ways for supplying the gas to said chamber, one of the said passage-ways supplying the said gas continuously and the other one supplying the same at intervals, a sounding device, and means actuated by the said gas to produce sounds by the said sounding device.

4:. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gas under pressure, said apparatus comprising a pressure regulator for the gas, a chamber for receiving the gas from said regulator, two passage-ways for conveying the gas from said regulator to said chamber, one continuously and the other at intervals, a sounding device, and means actuated by the admission of gas into said chamber for sounding the said sounding dev1ce.

5. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gas under pressure, said apparatus comprising a cylinder, a chamber opening into said cylinder, movable means in said cylinder for closing said chamber, means for supplying gas to the said chamher the said gas gradiially accumulating in said chamber and the pressure therein gradually increasing until the force exerted thereby is suflicient to cause movement of the said means in one direction. to permit passage of gas from said chamber to said cylinder whereby the force exerted against said means is greatly increased to cause quick movement of said means in one direction, a signal device and means whereby the same is operated as a result of the last mentioned movement of the said means.

6. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gas under pressure, said ing device.

connection with said to actuate" the' piston, a 3 second passageway through whichgas under-pressure: is 'adapte'd'to be supplied zit-intervals to the said cyllnder, for augmenting the gas supply through the first-named passage-way,

means interposed} in the second-named passage-way for -'controlling' the flow of gas therethrough', means whereby" the position of the'said controllingmeans' is controlled bythe movements-of thesaid' piston, a signaling device, and means whereby the move- :ments of the said piston are caused to actuate the said signaling device.

8: Asound' signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gas under pressure, said apparatus comprising i a cylinder and a piston 'in said cyl1nder,'a condult for supplying gas under pressure te-Opeiate saidipiston', a second conduit for supplyung "gas under pressure at intervals to act simultaneously with and to supplement the-gas 'supplied'by the first-namedconduitto operate said piston,- the-said last-mentioned conduit includ ing a valve forycontrollingzthe passage of the gastherethrough, means whereby the movements of the said piston are adapted to control the opening and closing of said valve, a signaling device, and means having piston for operating said signaling device.

9. A sound signal apparatus-adapted to be operated by a gas under pressure, said apparatus comprising a cylinder having a piston therein, means for continuously supplying gas under pressure to the said cylinder to actuate 'the' said pistonpa second means including a passage-way for supplyinggas under-pressure at intervals "to assist in the operation of said piston, ajvalve in said passage-way for opening and closing the same, a rotatable member therein for 'controllingthe opening and" closing of said valve, and means whereby the. movements of said piston cause rotatory movement; of" the said rotatable member sounder, and means actuated by the said piston for striking the said'sounde'r;

10. 'A sound sign'al-apparatus-adapted to beop'erated by a gas under pressure, said apparatus comprisng' a cylinder having a piston therein, a valve casing communicating with ,the saidqcylinder, a valvie fori'sepa "the said sounder.

rating: the said valve easing into upper and lower chambers, a conduit for supplying gas ;to the upper ch'amberiof said valve casing and to' thesaid cylinder for actuating the saidpisfton, a conduit for supplying gas to the lower chamber of said valve casing.

means: in said valve casing controlled by the -move1nentsof the said piston. for controlling the opening and closing of said valve whereby the passageof gas from'the lowerto the upper. chamber and into 'the' said cylinder is controlled, r a sounder, and means having connection with the said piston for-striking 11. A sound" signal apparatus adapted to 'be'op'erated bya gas underpressure, said apparatus comprising a piston chamber and a piston therein, a valve casing having communication with the said piston chamber, said casing havinga web extending across mesmeto divide it into chambers, said web having an opening therethrough, a

valve for closing the saidopening said valve having a stem extending through the said openingyaslidable member situated in the chamber of the said valve casing opposite the said valve, a rotatable member'supported upon the saidslidable member which rotatable member is'adapted tocause the openingand permit the closing of the said valve,

means for moving th'e said' 'slidablemember in a direction"awayfifro nthe said web When the" piston "in the said piston chamber" is lifted, means ausingiparti'al rotation of said rotatable memberIWhen the slidable member is lifted, the said slidable member-having means whereby" it is depressed as 'the'jpiston completes its return strokefmeans for supin the said valve casing occupiedby the said slidablemember', means for supplying gas to the opposite chamber in said casing, a

signaling device, and meansconnecting the said signaling device to the said piston whereby movements of the latter operate the said signaling device; i Y

12. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated bya gas under pressure, said apparatus comprisinga piston chamber and a piston therein, means for supplying gas under pressure to the said chamber for operating said piston, means for supplying additional quantities of gas at intervals to the said chamber, said last mentioned means including a 'cha1nber:d1v1ded" into two compartments having communication with ea'ch other, a spring-pressed valve for closing the commumcatlon between the said compartments, said valve havinga stem projecting from one of'the-said compartments into the other, a rectilinearly movableandrotatably mounted memb'erin the said other compartment, said member being provided with holes therein at interva1s, means for causing movementof the saidmember whenthe said piston is lifted by the pressure of the gas in the said piston chamber, means for causing partial rotation of the said member when it is lifted so as to move the said holes successively into position to receive the end of the said valve stem when the said'stem registers therewith, means whereby the said member is depressed as .the said piston completes its return stroke, a, sounder, a striker for said sounder, and means actuated by the movements of the said piston foroperating the said striker.

13. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gas under pressure, the said apparatus comprising a cylinder having a piston therein, a chamber secured to one end of and opening into the said cylinder which chamber is adapted to be closed by the said piston, means for supplying a gas under pressure continuously to said chamber, the said gas gradually accumulating in said chamber and the force exerted thereby gradually increasing, the area of the said piston when in closed position against .which the force of expansion of the gasin the said chamber is exerted being substantially equal to the area of the open end of said chamber whereby the said piston may be moved slightly by such force to open the said chamber to permit the gas to escape therefrom and spread out over the area of the said cylinder between the said piston and the opposing end of said cylinder whereby the said piston is caused to move suddenly outwardly,

a signaling device, and means connecting the said device with the said piston whereby movement of the latter occasions the sounding of said device.

14. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gas under pressure, said apparatus comprising a sounding device, a movable means for actuating the said sounding device, a source of gas supply and two conduits for supplying the said gas to operate the said movable means one of the said Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

conduits being supplemental to the other and supplying gas at predetermined intervals, such gas being supplied simultaneously with that supplied by the other conduit.

15. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by gaseous fluid under pressure, said apparatus comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a chamber adapted to receive the said fluid and communicating with said cylinder, two passage-ways for supplying the fluid to said chamber, one of the said passage-ways continuously supplying the said fluid to said chamber and the other one supplying the same thereto at in tervals, the said fluid being adapted to enter the said cylinder from the said chamber at intervals and actuate the said piston, a sounding device, and means actuated by the said piston to sound the said sounding device.

16. A sound signal apparatus adapted to be operated by a gaseous fluid under pressure, said apparatus comprising a piston chamber, a piston in said chamber, a chamber outside of the said piston chamber and having communication therewith, the communication from the said outside chamber to the said piston chamber being adapted to be closed by a portion of said piston when in one position, means for supplying said fluid continuously to the said outside chamber, such fluid accumulating gradually therein until the accumulated expansive force exerted thereby is suflicient to cause movement of said piston to permit the expansive action of said fluid to be exerted against the entire adjacent face of said piston in one direction, a sounder and means actuated by the movement of said piston for striking said sounder.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two .witnesses.

GUSTAF DALEN.

Witnesses Gns'rA PRIST, WALDEMAR BOMAU.

Washington, D. G." 

